Collapsible crane or platform tower



Nov. 28, 1944. v. GERICH COLLAfSIBLE CRANE 0R PLATFORIL TOWER 2 Sheets-Shea 1 Filed June 28, 1943 mmvrom VFILEN TINE GER/DH 4., ATIQRNEX.

V. GERICH COLLAPSIBLE CRANE OR PLATFORM TOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1943 XINVEN-TOR. VfiLE/VT/NE'EER/CH BY Patented Nov. 28, 1944 COLLAPSIBLE CRANE on PLATFORM TOWER Valentine GerichQNeW York, N. Y. i i i Application June 28, 1943, Serial No. 492,538

claims. (o1. 212-55) A t This invention relates to a telescopic and collapsible apparatus, particularly to an extension crane-hoist of a toggle formation for use in con- 7 struction work of erecting buildings of medium height, and is also adaptable for use aslife say ing tower in burning buildings.

, t The mainobject of this invention, is the progressive arrangement of the toggle beams, that i are extendable instantly by a power driven screwfrod operable on a turntable mountedupon a chassis ,or frame of a truck, caterpillar or ,upon

the ground. Thefextendable beams are instantly collapsible by reversing the extendable operation, in which all of the beams fold themselveswithin {each other.

orboom part of the crane-hoist, which is adaptable to hoist lightand heavy work, controllable by cables andpower. driven winches operated at the baseof theapparatus.

Another feature of this invention, is the crane Another feature'of this invention, is the adap--.

tationof utilizing the top portion of the toggle beamsfor mountingthereon a water nozzle of a fire tower apparatus.

Another feature of this invention,is the adaptation of mounting a cage orbox-like car on the top portion of the toggle beams, which is so arranged the toggle arms supporting the car are slidable underneath, in their inwardly and outwardly movement during the extendableandcollapsible operationsof the crane-hoist.

A further feature of this invention, is the adaptability of using the togglecrane-hoist as an amusement park attraction, inwhicli a possible height of several hundred feet may be the 'extendable observation position, the tower being rotatable, so the passengers in the car may look in alldirections. f A further feature of this invention is, its use for a lookout tower for the armed forces, and also for a search-light, and for a ,crow-nesttoweron warships.

. Other featuresof this invention will appear as the description proceeds in the following specification, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of the telescopic crane-hoist in its extendable position.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same Figure 1. Figure 3 shows the top portion of the toggle beams provided with cage or box-like car, for use as part of fire life saving apparatus, or as an amusement park attraction.

' Figure 4 shows a similar view, except a fire water nozzle is mounted in place of the cage or box-like car.

i the broken portions of each short and long arm t tel-mediate beams 2, 3,4, 5 and 6, the same length if sodesired.

Figure 5 shows the togglebeams collapsible from the extended position as shown in Figure l,

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically toggle beams having the same length. i

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I indicates the complete crane- -hoist apparatus, having toggle beams in pairs l-l; 2-2; 3-3;?4-4; 5-5; 6-6; allof which are pivoted together, at 1-1 and 8-8. These'togglebeams are so set and arranged progressively that the top beams 6-6 are about one-half theflength ofthelowermost base beams I-l operable onthe turntable platform P,thus providin a pyramid construction. [The topbarms 9-9 pivoted ,to th beams 6-6, have a boom or hoistingbell-crank shape men her} 10 mounted onto the tubingshaft Mb there'- with theboom lllhavingpulleysfl and I 3 for cables 14 and I5 connecting to pulleys l6 and H on shaft Hh thence to the winches I9 and 20, respectively, which, are power driven by the motors MI and M2 adjacent the base of thecranehoist; The boom itself is operatedbythe cable .23 secured at 24 to the end of the shortarm 25 of the boom It, the cable connecting to apulley 26 outside the turntable and adjacent the lower- ,most toggle beams l-l thence upwardlyto the pulley 21pm theshort arm 25 and thence down to the winch 28 which ispower driven by a motor and 6-6. are spacediand retained apart by tubing .spacersor shafts Ila, l lb, |lc, 11d, lleandlllf respectively, and the end portions of beams are similarly connected by tubing 'shaftsl'a and 8d.

As noted'in FigureZ the beams are progressively set within each other inwardly so asto form a brace-like or pyramid assembly when. they are extended as shown in Figures land 2'. The to gle beams maybe made otherwise then shown, but it is believed that the beams shown are suitable for side strains or thrusts. However, the toggle beamstfrom the uppermost beams 9, down to the lowermost beams l, and including the inmaybe all of The cable I has'ja light duty hook Ma, and the cable I5 has a heavy duty hook [5a and doubled wound cable arrangement as shown, and the boom 10 may be of any suitable length, hence thereof.

The lowermost toggle beams 1-! are pivoted toth blocks 30 and 3|, which are operable by the rotatable right and left threaded shafts or The beams 6 3-3, 4-4; 5:5

rods or rodportions 32 and 33, respectively. The threaded shafts or portions are operated by a motor M4 of the reversible type, or by separate motors, if so desired, by means of a Worm 34 and worm wheel 34a. The screw rods are mounted onto a bed-plate or frame member 35 in bearings 36 and 31, the frame member being rotatable on rollers 39, thus providing a turntable in which a king bolt 40 secures them together pivotally to the frame platform P of the caterpillar C shown in dot and dash lines, which may be a large tractor or truck, if so desired.

In Figure 2,-it will be noted that the toggle beams are adapted to be collapsible within each other as shown in Figure 5, and suitable means not shown may be provided for taking up the slack of the cables during the collapsible. operation, and for the pull during the extending oper ation of the crane-hoist I.

The operation controls may be arranged within ,a .cab C oroutside of the turntable, in which means will, be provided? for the rotatable movementfor the cables, but as, it is now shown the cables I 4. and I5 have their winches and motor drive within thefbeams and upon, the turntable platform P, and the cable 23 is outside thereof.

In Figure 3, .a box-like-car is arranged in fixed bearings, 41 and 48 on each side portions of the car, rods 50 being secured therein, onto which is slidable blocks 5| and52 pivoted to the end of the upper; toggle beams Be-6. A center bar 5,5 extending through, a fixed'bearing 56 on for use between car and building B all shown in dotedashlines. in. Figure 3. The car maybe interchangeable with-a water gun .or nozzle 65 shown in Figure 4,, or either may be permanently arranged asshown. I

When the extended. toggle beams are used for an. amusement device, the 'base may be spread over aplot of about 50 feetsquare, moreorless,

adapted to support a platform, which may be interchangeable with a box-like car, or a crane hoisting boom, means to operate said lowertoggle beams for extending all of said toggle beams to any desired height, and further means to lower said toggle beams to their collapsible and normal positions. a r

'2. In a collapsible crane apparatus and platform tower of the character described, including "a plurality of toggle beams arranged in pairs suit- .ablyspaced apart and connectable at the center -An "extendable gangfway bridge member may or ma not be part of the car,

and anchor cables may be added for safety from wind or gales. However, this toggle arrangement .is' instantly collapsible, within a two or three seconds for emergencies, An altitude of 300 to 500 feetv is possible with this crane-hoist comprising toggle-beams, and theobservationcar may hold thirty people, and when the. device is, extended tohigher position it may be rotated around at least once, or morenif so desired.

Havingthusdescribed'm-y invention, what I claim as new and to secure by Letters Patent oil the United States of America, is as follows:

1 Ina collapsible. crane apparatus of the character described,v including a plurality of toggle beams arranged in, pairs and. spaced apart and connectably secured together pivotally at their center and end portions, said toggle beams spaced apart by tubing; members mounted onto tie-rods and end portions by tubing spacers all of which are tied together by tie-rods and lock-nuts therewith, the lowermost toggle beams securely mounted onto a rotatable platform, the uppermost toggle beams supporting a bell-crank boom, the boom and provided with pulleys for" cables with hoist hooks attheir ends thereof, said bell-crankboom operative by suitable power means adjacent said lower platform, further means to extend all of said toggle beamsln their extendable. positions to any desired height". and further means to lower said toggle beams to a collapsible position onto said lower platform, and said bell-cranklboom adaptable for being interchangeable for a boxlike car, or a water nozzle platform, is so desired.

3. In a collapsible tower platform ofthe character described, including a plurality of toggle beams of not less than six sections arranged. in

pairs, each" pair and section spaced apart by tubing and tie-rods with lock-nuts, at their center;

and end portions, the lowermosttoggle beams adapted to be mounted onto a suitable platform, the uppermost toggle beams adapted to, support either a box-like car, or an open platform, or a bell-crank boom, all ofwhich are interchangeable with each other onto said uppermost toggle beams, said toggle beamsf adapted to extended toany desired height and to be collapsible to their lower most positions, said toggle beamsmay be ofsufficient number of sections whereby said uppermost l like car, provides an amusement device or toylike device,, whereby said toggle beamsare constructed in proportion therewith,v and when the bell-crank boom is used, the, same proportions are maintained for their respectivepurposes as hoisting crane apparatus or a toy-like device;

. 5. In a collapsible tower platform apparatus of that extend through said toggle beams which] are pivotally securedonto the ends of said tie-rods by lock-nuts, thereby holding all of said to gle the characterdescrib'ed, and as defined in claim 4,

said uppermost toggle beams provided with a center bar that is slidable in bearing of part being supported thereon, whereby said part maybe held in a neutral and certain position during'the extending and collapsing of said toggle'beams.

GERICH. 

